Boucher suffers serious eye injury, out of tour

Taunton, Jul 10: South Africa wicket-keeper Mark Boucher has undergone surgery and will return home after his left eyeball was cut during his team's two-day warm-up game against Somerset County Cricket Club in Taunton on Monday.

The injury happened when the bail ricocheted off the stumps into his eye, after Gemaal Hussain was bowled off legspinner Imran Tahir's delivery.

The 35-year-old was looking forward to finish his career with the upcoming series against England. Boucher has played 147 Tests for South Africa and could have reached the 150-mark with a three-Test series coming up.

"Mark Boucher will be returning home from the tour. Selectors will name a replacement in due course. Thank you all for your positive thoughts," Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) tweeted on Tuesday morning.

On Monday, South Africa manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee said on Cricket South Africa (CSA) website: "Mark (Boucher) suffered a laceration to the sclera (white area) of his left eye. He will undergo emergency exploratory surgery in the next few hours, after which the ophthalmologist will be able to determine the extent of the damage."

"He will undergo emergency exploratory surgery in the next few hours, after which the ophthalmologist will be able to determine the extent of the damage," added Moosajee.

Boucher was later ruled out of the South Africa-England Test series which starts on July 19. They will be involved in three-match Test series, five One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.